THE MESA MARIN CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS ON

Source: Dave Grayson
Date: 08/05/2005

BAKERSFIELD, California -- When the Mesa Marin Raceway, in Bakersfield, concluded another edition of Thursday Night Thunder, July 21st, a lot more ocurred than another high quality night of racing action in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series. The final results of that night set the line up for the raceway's first ever Chase For The Championship which begins Saturday night, August 6th.

The Mesa Marin championship format is patterned after last year's high successful chase debuted by the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The top ten drivers, in Mesa Marin's NASCAR Late Model Series, will be seperated by two points per position in a five race, winner take all, run for the points title.

The competitors are:

1. Eric Richardson. 4 wins, 11 top fives, 12 top tens

2. Roy W. Degeer. 2 wins, 9 top fives, 11 top tens

3. Cody Pruitt. 1 win, 6 top fives, 11 top tens.

4. Kyle McDermott. 4 top fives, 9 top tens.

5. Josh Horn. 1 win, 3 top fives, 6 top tens

6. A J Destefani. 3 top fives, 8 top tens.

7. Mike Alexander. 1 win, 3 top fives, 7 top tens.

8. Candance Muzny. 4 top fives, 7 top tens.

9. Lloyd Wren Jr. 1 top fives, 6 top tens.

10.Ray Robinson. 3 top fives, 6 top tens

Bakersfield's Eric Richardson has been on top of Mesa Marin's NASCAR Late Model points standings from the very beginning of the 2005 season. Despite the possibility of bad luck ruining his title hopes, Richardson is looking forward to the challenge of Mesa Marin's Chase For The Championship.

Commenting on the chase, earlier this year, Richardson said "I would have loved it a couple of years ago when I struggled during the first part of the season. Overall I think it will be great, it will be exciting for the fans. It will be really exciting for the drivers because it will put everyone back on a level ground especially for someone who had a rough start in the year due to some bad luck. If you have a bad race, in the final five, you're history. You'll have to be consistent for the last five."

Very excited about Mesa Marin's Chase For The Championship is series regular Candance Muzny. Going into the July 21st Thursday Night Thunder event, Muzny was tied for the tenth, and final, starting berth in the chase. The pressure to make the title run was on and Muzny, and her team, came through with a rock solid top five performance that elevated her to eighth in the final rundown.

After that evening a very excited Muzny said "I can't believe it. It's hard to describe how I feel except to say I've got a great crew. My mom and dad were here from Oklahoma City, including my sister Christina, and they're like my lucky charms.The last time they were here I led the entire race except for the last lap so they're going to be here for every race in the championship. Mesa Marin has given me so much opportunity I've learned everything here. I can't thank them enough, I'm sad they're not going to be here next year so I'm going to try to go out with a bang this year."

Tomorrow night Mesa Marin will present the first and second races of the chase due to the fact that the NASCAR Late Models will be running twin, 40 lap, main events. The chase resumes on September 1st, which is the final Thursday Night Thunder event of the year, followed by a race on September 10th and concluding with the September 17th Carquest Championship Night when we'll find out who the new Mesa Marin Champion is.

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